Berhampur: The deer park in the premises of Berhampur University is all set to be shifted to Parlakhemundi by December this year.
“The process of relocation of the total antelope population from the deer park to Parlakhemundi will begin soon,” informed Berhmapur Forest Division DFO Asish Behera.
“There is a lack of animal shifting van, thus we are facing problem to relocate the herbivores,” he added.
“We have received information that the State government has purchased two veterinary vans which is expected to be brought to Nandankanan Zoological Park in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar by December first or second week. Once the vehicles reach Nandankanan, we will start relocating the animals from the deer park to Parlakhemundi,” he further added.
It is worthy mentionable that the deer park was set up in 1991 for beautification of the varsity and research by veterinarians. Under the supervision of then administrator Professor C.C. Dash, two deers were brought from the deer park at Raj Bhawan in the state capital and the animals were released in the newly-constructed park on 2.02 acre land in the varsity.
However, in the year 2010, Central Zoo Authority of India directed shifting of all mini zoos in the premises of education institutions. Following which the decision was taken by the University authorities to shift the deer park elsewhere. The varsity also issued a letter to forest department in this matter.
The varsity then sanctioned Rs 10 lakh to forest department against the shifting expenses March 31, 2017.
The deer population in the park has now risen to 50. The University’s veterinary department is shouldering the responsibility of the deer park maintenance and is taking good care of the animals.
Veterinary Science HOD Prasanna Kumar Dixit said an expenditure of Rs 5 lakh is being spent against feeding of the animals per year.
PNN